Assistant Director of the TIP Lab, Department of Criminology, University of South Florida
Dr. Shelly M. Wagers is an Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg campus, and currently serves as the President of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (www.npeiv.org). Dr. Wagers has worked in the domestic violence (DV) field for over 25 years: first as an advocate, then as a law enforcement officer, and now as a scholar. Dr. Wagers’ primary research interests include examining the relationship between power, control, and DV, along with developing evidence-based practices for DV policies and programs. Dr. Wagers also focuses her research on developing her theory of Internal Power and its theoretical correlation to intimate partner violence. Her most recent applied work examined factors impacting prosecutorial filing decisions in domestic violence cases. Dr. Wagers has published her research in numerous top peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Victims and Offenders, and the Journal of Social and Interpersonal Relationships.
Kailey Pate Carter is the Project Manager for BRIGHT, TIPSTR, and the Lab Manager at the University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience Research Lab. Kailey obtained both her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Criminology from the University of South Florida and has a passion for serving others. Kailey’s research interests include human trafficking, complex posttraumatic stress disorder, ACES, and domestic violence. She has been intricately involved on the BRIGHT project with the USF Trafficking in Persons Lab since the initial needs assessment conducted in the Fall of 2020, working with community partners to tailor the platform to their specific needs.
Taylor Algerio is a Research Services Administrator with the University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience Research Lab. She received her Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work from the University of South Florida and has experience working with the juvenile justice system, substance use disorders, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking.
Research Services Administrator, Student Volunteer Coordinator
Alexandria McCullum is a Research Services Administrator with the University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience Research Lab. She received her M.A. in Criminal Justice concentration in Behavioral Studies from Saint Leo University and her B.A. in Psychology minoring in Criminology from the University of South Florida. Her research interests include ACES, complex childhood trauma, and intimate partner violence. Previously, she worked as a child welfare advocate with experience in the dependency court system, juvenile justice system, substance abuse, and mental health.
Meghan Scott has a BA and MA in Criminology from the University of South Florida. She is passionate about using research-backed practices to address crime. She enjoys conducting research to advance criminology and using social media to raise awareness.
Ashley Pietri Baker, M.S.
Program Planner Analyst
As the Program Planner Analyst, Ashley works with our community partners to get them onboarded and engaged with the BRIGHT system. She assists in vetting partner organizations and conducts user experience research to help improve the system.